The Things That Made England

When you have lost your Inns, drown your empty selves - for you will have lost the last of England."

That's what Hillaire Belloc, the political activist wrote in the 19th century, and he was right. The Pub and its ancestors have been at the heart of English life for centuries. Once you are there, it doesn't matter where you come from, how old you are, your background or whatever - it's a place everyone can be together and comfortable.
But pubs are increasingly under threat, with closures every day. We talk about how pubs have changed, from the Mediaeval alewife's cottage to the High Victorian Gin Palace and to the infinite variety of the modern pub.
So this is our gallop through the history of how pubs have evolved as society changed, what makes English pub different, its role in social life, and why it's so important. Sadly we need to talk about the many challenges facing pubs - and what we can do about it.
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A journey through migration, music, race and class, how the offbeat rhythms of Jamaica became the soundtrack of working class England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roifield and I revisit the English National flag - which is something of a live issue. Why is it so contested? Is it a problem? And how do we make it what it should be - an expression of inclusive patriotism that brings people together across all differences of gender, race, faith, age and class.
Watch us talking on our new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@TheThingsThatMadeEngland
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Roifield and David talk about 5stories of England as part of the Very English Chat project, to tell stories of England in 50 objects.

‘A very English chat’ works is a wonderful project to escape division and polarisation, and the arid quarrels about flags - to build and celebrate a sense of Englishness, as part of a build up to England's national day, St George's Day on 23rd April. We are all invited to share our own 5 objects to be included in a virtual ‘pocket museum’ telling ‘The story of England 2026 in 50 objects.

To take part in a conversation between parishioners of the History of England, add your comment below, or go to the History of England Facebook Group.

To share your 5 objects for submission to the Pocket Museum of Englishness, please go to the A Very English Chat site.
I'd love to hear from you - and have fun celebrating a shared, positive and inclusive vision of Englishness means to us.
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In this lively episode of Birmingham Midweek, host Roifield Brown returns from California to catch up with historian David Crowther, creator of The History of England podcast. The duo embarks on an ambitious journey through English history, aiming to cover turning points from the Battle of Hastings to Brexit, though they start much earlier, around 6000 BCE. Crowther brings his signature wit and depth, proposing the sinking of Doggerland as England’s first turning point, setting the stage for an insular identity.

The conversation moves swiftly through history, from the arrival of the Beaker people and the Anglo-Saxon migrations, to Alfred the Great’s resilience in 878 and the seismic shift of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Crowther highlights the establishment of Parliament in the 13th century and the pivotal role of the Magna Carta, while Brown interjects with a mix of sharp questions and local pride (including a plug for Birmingham’s market charter in 1166).

The pair push into modernity with the Industrial Revolution, abolition of slavery, and the 19th century’s political reforms, before time runs short. Despite a few playful jabs, the episode strikes a fine balance between education and entertainment, setting up a likely return to tackle the 20th century.

Five Notable Quotes:
David Crowther: “We are who we believe we are. If there’s someone in Mongolia who considers themselves English, then as far as I’m concerned, they are English.”
Roifield Brown: “Aren’t you David first? No, you’ve subsumed yourself. You are just England.”
Crowther on 1066: “The Normans didn’t just conquer England, they imposed a colonial lordship that echoes through our countryside ownership even today.”
Brown: “We pivoted from looking across the North Sea to looking south. The Normans didn’t just bring castles, they reoriented our entire culture.”
Crowther on Cromwell: “Ironically, it’s Cromwell’s legacy that pushes us toward religious toleration. Not the story most people tell.”

Further Reading:
The History of England Podcast
Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities
Information on the Putney Debates: British Library
The Magna Carta at the National Archives: National Archives
The 1832 Great Reform Act: UK Parliament
If you love a blend of historical insight and sharp banter, this episode delivers, and with a promise of more to come, it’s worth keeping an eye on Birmingham Midweek.
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